<I>AIM OF STUDY: </I>To assess the relationships between age, respiratory symptoms, airways calibre and nonspecific bronchial responsiveness in a population sample including large numbers of elderly adults. <I>RESULTS: </I>783 questionnaires were sent to eligible subjects. 395 subjects were invited to attend; 247 did so, of whom 246 performed spirometry and 208 completed bronchial challenge. Prevalence of smoking was high (29.2% current smokers, 37.3% ex-smokers). Asthma was reported by 7.3%, bronchitis by 15.4%; a further 7.3% reported both diagnoses. 53.8% of subjects reported one or more respiratory symptoms. Chronic airflow obstruction (defined as FEV<SUB>1</SUB>/FVC<60% for age <65 years; for age ≥65 lower limit of FEV<SUB>1</SUB>/FVC was calculated from reference ranges [Enright PD et al, Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147: 125-331]) was present in 26.4% of the population; bronchial hyper-responsiveness (PD<SUB>20</SUB><100μg) was found in 26.0%. Comparison with values calculated from reference ranges suggested that FEV<SUB>1</SUB> in non-smoking Manchester adults was lower than predicted. Only 55.4% of those with chronic airflow obstruction reported a diagnosis of asthma or bronchitis, and only 35.4% were using appropriate inhaled medications. There was no difference in the prevalence of reported symptoms, diagnoses, or chronic airflow obstruction between adults aged <65 or ≥65 years. Multiple regression analysis with bronchial responsiveness (log dose-response slope) as the dependent variable showed an independent negative relationship with FEV<SUB>1</SUB>, and positive relationships with age and total IgE level. <I>CONCLUSIONS: </I>Respiratory morbidity is common in this middle-aged and elderly inner-city population, but is frequently undiagnosed and untreated. There is a positive relationship between bronchial responsiveness and age. Atopy is associated with bronchial responsiveness even in older adults.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:661062 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Renwick, Deborah S. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/21485 |
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